Senate Bill 259: Enhancing Legislative Report Transparency in California

In what is being called a move towards transparency and public accountability, State Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, announced the signing of Senate Bill 259 into law.

Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, represents California’s 32nd Senate District, which includes the cities and communities of Aguanga, Anza, Borrego Springs, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Chino Hills, Corona, Desert Edge, Desert Hot Springs, El Sobrante, French Valley, Good Hope, Hemet, Homeland, Idyllwild, Julian, La Cresta, Lake Elsinore, Lake Mathews, Lakeland Village, Menifee, Mead Valley, Meadowbrook, Murrieta, Norco, Palm Springs, Sage, Sky Valley, Riverside, Temecula, Temescal Valley, Thousand Palms, Valle Vista, Whitewater, Wildomar, Winchester, Woodcrest and Yorba Linda.

This legislation, effective September 1, 2023, mandates that state agencies in California must now post all reports submitted to the legislature on their respective websites.

This includes reports required by statute and those submitted by request, ensuring that crucial information guiding legislative decisions is accessible to the public.

Under the previous framework, only reports mandated by law needed to be posted on the agencies’ websites. Reports submitted upon request, whether by lawmakers or committee staff, did not have the same transparency requirement. Though often influential in guiding lawmakers’ decisions, these reports remained largely inaccessible to the general public.

State Sen. Seyarto, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the importance of aligning public access with lawmakers’ access to information. “The public should be able to view and read the same materials that legislators have available when making decisions and weighing impacts of legislation on our communities,” Sen. Seyarto said. “This bill removes the inconsistency to public access and promotes accountability and transparency throughout the legislative process without undue burdens on agencies that submit important reports.”

1. Expanding Reporting Requirements: SB 259 expands the reporting requirement to cover not only reports mandated by law but also those requested by the legislature or identified in the Legislative Analyst’s Supplemental Report of the Budget Act.

2. Accessibility: State agencies are now required to post these reports on their websites, making them easily accessible to the public.

3. Legislative Counsel’s Role: The Legislative Counsel, responsible for making legislative information available to the public electronically, will also provide a link to the list of state and local agency reports submitted to legislative committees or members of either house of the Legislature.

Prior to becoming law, Senate Bill 259 received unanimous support in both the Senate and the Assembly, showcasing its bipartisan appeal. The bill’s journey through the legislative process was marked by an absence of opposition, highlighting the widespread recognition of the importance of transparency in government.

This legislation marks a significant step towards increased transparency in California’s state government. By ensuring that reports guiding legislative decisions are readily available to the public, it empowers citizens to stay informed and engaged in the legislative process. It also fosters accountability among state agencies, promoting responsible governance.